Safety and efficacy are key issues in antiretroviral therapy (ART) selection. Efavirenz (EFV) is an important component of combination ART in treatment naive individuals. Like many drugs, there are inter-individual differences in the efficacy and tolerability of EFV. The Encore1 study provides an opportunity to examine the pharmacokinetics (PK)(processes by which a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body) of EFV in blood samples collected over a 24-hour dosing interval in participants receiving either standard 600 mg or reduced 400 mg dose EFV once daily.

To compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of EFV determined from blood collected over a 24-hour dosing interval in blinded samples from participants taking either 600 mg or 400 mg once daily in combination with Truvada. [ Time Frame: 48 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

This sub-study will investigate the relationships between dosage, EFV plasma concentrations, toxicity and virological efficacy. EFV concentrations in dried blood spots and matched plasma and will be evaluated to determine the utility of dried blood spot measurements in measuring EFV plasma concentrations. Measurements dried blood spots could potentially be a cheap and easy alternative to measurements in plasma. Dried blood spots can be easily collected from venous blood or fingerprick, do not need plasma separation and potentially need less stringent storage conditions during shipment.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

16 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

All participants enrolled into the main Encore1 study at participating sub-study sites will be eligible to participate.

taken randomized study drugs for at least 4 weeks but less than 8 weeks

taken EFV in the evening for at least 7 days

taken all EFV doses over the 3 preceding days.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01271894